Safety head holder for head splitting machines



April 24, 1951 c. o. SCHMIDT, JR ,54

SAFETY HEAD HOLDER FOR HEAD SPLITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 17, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

.CARL OSCAR SCHMIDT, Jr.

April 24, 1951 c. o. SCHMIDT, JR

SAFETY HEAD HOLDER FOR HEAD SPLITTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 17, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CARL OSCAR SOHMIDT,Jr.

Patented Apr. 24, 1951 SAFETY HEAD HOLDER FOR HEAD SPLITTING MACHINES Carl Oscar Schmidt, Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio, as-

signor to The Cincinnati Butchers Supply Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 17, 1949, Serial No. 121,871

Claims.

This invention relates to a head holder and more particularly to a safety head holder for socalled animal head splitting machines of the type used in commercial butchering establishments.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, foolproof, mechanical means for positively yet releasably holding irregular objects, such as animal heads, on a supporting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety head holder constructed and arranged for association with presently existing head splitting machines without necessitating structural changes therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety holder which is manually operated by one hand of an operator, wherein the holding operation will be terminated incident to release of a control handle by an operator. In other words, the instant device cannot be used unless the operator pays attention to his job.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a safety head splitting mechanism which includes means for controlling the electrical circuit to the electrically controlled actuating mechanism which drives the knife arm downwardly on its head splitting stroke. In the present invention the electrically controlled actuating mechanism is governed by means of a limit switch, in series with the motor control circuit, whereby the circuit will be closed only during those period of time when the safety head holder mechanism has been manually actuated to assume a predetermined relationship.

Still another object of the invention is to provide safety means for a head splitting machine, which safety means contemplates the use of two switches in series with the motor control circuit, wherein the switches are located re-, mote from the table top of the machine whereby accidental or unintentional energization of the motor control circuit cannot be effected in the absence of a deliberate act on the part of the operator to manipulate the two switches.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and as disclosed in the,

accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a typical com mercial animal head splitting machine provided with my safety features.

Fig.2 is a front view of my safety head holding device associated with a head splitting machine, parts of which are indicated in broken outline.

Fig. 3 is a view of the right side of the device of Fig. 2,

Figs. 5 and 6 are side views of modified forms.

of fingers comprising a detail of the present invention.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic representation of an exemplary control circuit for the motor drive of a commercial head splitting machine.

Fig. 8 is a side view of an exemplary driving mechanism for knife arm l2.

In commercial butchering operations animal head are split apart in order to facilitate removal of the brain and portions of head meat which are utilized in the making of sausage. Such head splitting operations are usually accomplished by means of a mechanically actuated knife arm which is driven into an animal head supported upon the table top of the machine.

Heretofore it has been the-common, but dangerou's'practice for the operators of such head splitting machines to hold the head to be split. On continuously operated splitters skill and dexterity are required to place or position the head accurately under the knife when it reaches its top position and hold it with both hands during splitting operation. v

, On intermittently operated splitters, the head is placed on the table top or head rest with both hands. The head is then held with one hand while utilizing the other hand to manipulate the controls for causing the machine to operate.

The intermittently operated splitter is an improvement over the continuously operated type and the safety head holder of the present invention is to be used only with the intermittently operated splitter, which i equipped with an electric limit switch to stop splitter after each splitting cycle. I

When heads are held by hand the operator is not only subjected to unnecessary dangers but the head splitting action is quite often unsatisfactory by reason of the fact that the head is not firmly positioned incident to the splitting] action of the power driven knife arm. I, I With reference now to Fig. 1, the numeral l0 denotes generally a commercial head splitting machine which includes a knife arm I2, the free outer end of which is provided with suitable head splitting knives I4. It should be noted that the mechanism illustrated is a hog-head splitter, however, the present invention i applicable to all mechanical head splitting mechanisms, whether hog, sheep, calves, beef, or otherwise.

Knife arm l2 may be pivoted as at l6 for Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View illustrating.

carried by shaft 23 rotatably journaledto'andbetween a pair of laterally. spaced brackets=.25r The opposite ends of shaft 23cmay' be provided: with crank arms 21 to which the lower endsuofi the yoke arms 18 may be pivotally secured as at [9. Motor 20 and brackets -may=be.suitablyse-- cured to and suspended from table I3I At this point it should be clearly understood thatthe:

present invention is neither concerned with nor directed. to the particular structural details of thehead splitting-mechanism, but is rather "concerned with the safety features hereinafter more fully described.

Then-heads tobe split'areplacedupon table top 22 and after being centered and steadied are ready tobe subjected to the-splitting action of knives I4. Heretoforeoperators have steadied the heads with one hand, using-their'other. hand to'manipulate suitable knife-arm-actuatingcontrols. The-primary object of the present-invention is-to provide a mechanical head -holder=which will eliminate the present hazards by'making it necessary for an operator to place his hands at certain definite locations or stationsto render the machine operative.

With particular reference now to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that my improved'safety head holding'device includes two laterally spaced rows of headengaging finger 30, which are illustrated in their fullyraised; inoperative, non-clamping positions.

As best disclosed in Fig; 3, each-finger may include. a boss portion 32 dimensioned to engage shaft=34suitably journaled as at 36 -in'bearlng brackets 38. Preferably, though'not necessarily, brackets 38 may be one-piece, as illustrated, and include'upstanding end portions 39.- and a lower portion 40 constructed and arranged to be secured to the. framework of an existing head splitting machine-by meansof bolts 42, or the like.

Theaxis of each shaft 34 is disposed alongan edge of table top 22;

If; desired, fingers 30 may be secured directly to. shafts 34, howevenin the preferred embodiment of the invention each of fingers 30- are connectedinyieldable driven-relationship with their respective shafts, thereby enabling the fingers to conform to the irregular contour of an: animal head :or other irregular. object supported on table top 2 2.

To provide the desired yieldable driven relationshipbetween fingers 3B and shafts34, collars .44 may be provided, one for each finger, wherein each collar is dimensioned for a slip fit with shaft 34. Suitablefastening-means, such as a set screw 46. (Fig. 4-) may be provided. for enabling the various collars to be fixedly secured. to shaft 34in any desired relationshiptherewith. Resilient driving members, such'as coilsprings 48 -may. be provided around shafts 34, one between each finger and its associated collar andwiththeir opposite. endsfastened to a collar. a-nditsassociated finger, respectively.

With the reference. again to Fig. 3, it will-be noted that any turning motion imparted to Shaft Motor 28 may be coupled to a suitable- 34 will be imparted directly to collars 44 which are fixedly secured thereto; and that such turning motion will be imparted to fingers 30 through the various resilient connector elements, or springs 48. This construction facilitates relative movement between each fingerand its shaft as well as between the individual fingers mounted on the shaft, thereby making it possible to positively engage an irregular article, such as an animal head, for holdin it tightly against or on table top 22 utilizing only two rows of fingers.

A crank arm may be secured to one end of each of Shafts 34 and in overhanging relationship with the. forward end of the machine, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 andB. The free outer end of each crank arm is pivotally connected, as at 62, to levers 64, the other ends of which are pivotally secured a at 66 to a common axis, as by a stud 68.

Guide means, denoted generally by the numeral 10,- may be fastened to the forward end of the head splitting machine by bolts 12, or the like. The guidemeans includes a base plate i l on which a follower member 16 is slidably mounted. Suitablev means maybe provided for guiding and insuringthe desired sliding relationship between follower T6 and member 14, such as, by Way of example, L-shaped laterally spaced strips 18, which are secured to and carried by member 14 with adjacent portions disposed in overlapping relationship with the side edges of the follower. Stud 68 'is secured. to and carried by the follower, and for convenience, a hand grip member may be provided. as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

The axis of travel of follower '16 should be at substantial right angles with table top 22, or, stated another way, atright angles with a line drawnthrough the centers of shafts 34.

From the-foregoing, it will be apparent that a lifting force applied to hand grip 80 willresult in elevation of the follower and the concurrent turning of each of shafts 34 inwardly toward one anotherfor lowering their; respective fingers over the table top.

The effectiveness of fingers 30. for positioning and holding an article upon table top22. is contingentupon and a function of the. lifting force appliedthrough handle 80, it being understood that the-greater the lifting force themore positive an article will .be engaged bythe fingers. Release of handle 80 will result in lowering of follower 1B and the automatic release of the article on the table top incident to return of fingers 30 to their upstanding, inoperative positions illustrated in Figs. 1, 2..and.3.

In .the preferred embodimentof the invention I not only provide the hereinabove described. meansfor securely though releasably holding an irregular object onto table top 22, but go further and provide means for rendering the head splitting mechanism inoperative duringthose pe riods of time when the head holding mechanism is inoperative. This is accomplished by providinga limit switch in series with. the control circuit of motor 20. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, limit switch 90 may. include an arm 92, movable between raised or elevated circuit-making and lowered circuit-breaking positions. The free outer end of arm 92 may be provided with a rotatable. member 94 adapted to ride upon the rear face of follower 1B, which may be. provided witha stepped portion or offset 11 definingrear. faces-19 and 8!. In Fig. 3, itwillbe notedthat follower 16 is in a fully lowered circuitebreaking position. As handle 80 is elevated for movmotor of the device for driving knife arm I2,

downwardly in a head splitting cycle. If the operator should accidentally or deliberately permit handle 80 to be lowered, during the head splitting cycle, the electrical circuit to motor 20 will be interrupted incident to movement of member 94 from face 8| to 19, thereby instantly stopping the downward power stroke of knife arm I'2. It is apparent, therefore, that the mechanism can be operated only in response to an intentional, deliberate act on the part of an operator.

In order to further enhance the safety characteristics of the head splitting machine, a second switch, denoted generally by the numeral I00, may be placed in series in the motor control circuit; and to insure that both hands of an operator are in a safe place while the knife armis being lowered on a power stroke, switch I00 is located remote from handle 80, such as, by way of example, along theupper side edge of the framework, thereby making it necessary for an operator to deliberately and concurrently use one hand to lift handle 80 and his other hand to actuate switch H1 0 in order to render the machine operative.

In order to increase the frictional engagement between a finger and the object held thereby, the finger denoted generally by the numeral I and having at least one serrated edge I32 (Fig. 5), may be utilized in lieu of fingers 39.

In Fig. 6 a modified type of finger is illustrated which comprises a collar portion I and a resilient finger portion I42 which may be fabricated from suitable material characterized by its inherent flexibility. silient material may be replaced with a coiled, spring-like member.

In those instances where resilient fingers are utilized, collars I40 may be fixedly secured directly to shafts 34, in which event collars 40 and the resilient connected elements 48 may be omitted.

With reference again to Fig. 3, it will be observed that one side of each finger boss 32 may be undercut as at 5B for providing an abutment 52, and that each of collars 44 which are immediately adjacent a finger boss may be provided with an interfering member 54 constructed and arranged to engage abutments 52 incident to relative motion between a finger and its associated collar beyond a predetermined amount as defined by the spacing between adjacent faces of each abutment and its associated interfering member.

In this manner I have provided means for enabling an operator to actuate shafts 34 until at least one of fingers 30 is forced against an object positioned on table top 2'2 by reason of a direct driving relationship of that finger through its associated collar 44. The other fingers will be urged in contact with other portions of the object by means of their respective resilient connector element 48.

It will be observed that collar 44 adjacent the left end of bracket 38 has not been provided with an interfering portion 54 because of its bearing relationship with the bracket.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that I have not only provided positive means for holding a head incident to a splitting operation, but have If desired, the strip of re- 6 likewise provided simple, yet highly effective, means for precluding accidental or unintentional operation of the splitting mechanism whereby an operator cannot be injured incident to normal and intended operation of the machine.

What is claimed is:

1. For use in a head splitting machine comprisin means for splitting the head, a holder including an elongated table-like support for the head, the head support including side and end edges, a rotatable shaft carried by the support adjacent each side edge in spaced parallel relationship, a plurality of spaced yieldable fingers mounted on each shaft and directly connected thereto in yieldable driven relationship, the fingers normally extending substantially vertical from the outer circumference of the shaft and between the ends thereof, the table being adapted to support a head thereon between the shaft and fingers, means operatively associated with the shafts for rotating the shafts to cause the fingers to move toward each other and thereby engage thehead at different spaced points and horizontalplanes to hold and position the head on the table support, and the engagement of the fingers wtih the head being such that the upper portion of the head is exposed so that while so held and positioned it can be split.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the fingers are connected to the shafts by a resilient member for each finger with the opposite ends of the resilient member being secured relative to a finger and the associated shaft.

,3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the fingers are connected to the shafts by an actuating element for each finger secured to and driven by the shaft and yieldable means interconnecting each finger in driving relationship with its associated actuating element.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein there is means actuated by the shaft rotating means to cause completion of a circuit to a driving means for the head splitting means.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft rotating means comprises crank arms operatively associated with each shaft, levers pivotally secured to each crank arm, a guide .means, a follower slidable in the guide means,

each of the levers being pivotally interconnected with the follower, and means for operating the follower.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein there is an electrical switch actuated by the follower when moved in a guide means to close a circuit to a driving means for the head splitting means.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein there is a manually operable normally open switch in series with the driving means and the first mentioned switch mounted on the machine at a point removed from the first mentioned switch.

8. For use in a head splittin machine comprising means for splitting a head, a holder including an elongated table-like support for the head, the head support including side and and edges, U-shaped brackets mounted on the support adjacent each side edge, rotatable shafts journaled in each of the brackets and positioned slightly above the support in spaced parallel relationship, a plurality of spaced fingers mounted on each shaft, the fingers normally extending substantially vertical from the outer circumference of the shaft and between the ends thereof, an actuating element for each finger secured to and driven by the shaft, yielding means mounted on the shaft between the actuatin element and its associated fingers in driving relationship with the actuating element and its associated finger, the table being adapted to support a head thereon between the shafts and fingers, crank arms operatively associated with each shaft, levers pivotally secured to each crank arm, a slide member mounted below the support and disposed on an axis at substantial right angles with the mean plane of said support, a follower carried by the slide and movable therein, each of the levers being pivotally connected with the follower and means for operating the follower to rotate the shafts to cause the fingers to move toward each other and thereby engage the head at different spaced points and horizontal planes to hold and position the head on the table support, and the engagement of the fingers with the head being such that the upper portion of the head is exposed so that while so held and positioned it can be split.

9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein there is a driving means for the head splitting means, an electrical circuit for the driving means, and an electrical switch in the circuit actuated by the follower when moved in the slide to close the circuit to the driving means for the head splitting means.

10. In a head splitting machine having means for holding and splitting heads, said holding means including a supporting table, a pair of laterally spaced U-shaped brackets, means for securing said brackets relative to the supporting table, a shaft journaled in each bracket, a plus rality of fingers carried by and rotatably mounted on each shaft, an actuating element for each finger securedto and carried by the shafts, and,

10 shafts incident to movement of said last mentioned means.

CARL OSCAR SCHMIDT, JR.

15 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the idle of this patent:

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